User:FacesSmall/With A Girl Like You

"With A Girl Like You" is a song written by Swedish musician Victor Friberg and subsequently recorded by his band The Prelude. First released on their extended play Louie Louie, it is Friberg's first vocal on any release by the group and clocking in at just one minute and forty-eight seconds, is also the shortest on the EP. Unlike the other tracks on found on the EP, "With A Girl Like You" was the only track recorded specifically for album release. It was incorporated into their live repertoire in 1964 and later also into Friberg's solo setlist.

"With A Girl Like You" was later revived by garage rock The Troggs who through a new composition released it as a single in mid-1966. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in August of that year and remained there for two weeks.

Background
"With A Girl Like You" was apparently written by Friberg in an attempt to write something considered "mainstream", compared to the music they'd previously released. He claims that he wrote it as a tribute to an "unspecified" individual; he has hold on to this claim and has never revealed who the song actually is about. The song opens with an unrepeated introductory section sung by Friberg, in his first vocal for the band. "I remember the nervousness in my voice once I attempted it. I did not have the same vocal range as Anton Wihlborg, and certainly not the feeling either. That's why they only gave me one song in the setlist, "Walking the Dog."" He later admitted in a BBC interview.

Each verse preceding the B section (a.k.a. Bridge or Middle Eight) has a slightly different ending which creates a seamless transition between the two. The demo version (just Friberg alone on bass guitar) from May 1964, does include the introduction, as well as an alternative ending. The remainder of the song features a two-part harmony, with Wihlborg singing the lower harmony while Friberg sings the higher one. It also features William Hoang's intricate chord changes. The key changes from D flat minor to D major at the end of the introduction, which is played with a series of descending barre chords). The rest of the composition uses mainly open chords, including an unusual D ninth.

Recording
For the song, Wihlborg and Friberg used a single microphone, in order to get a sound similar to The Everly Brothers. The song was first attempted as a demo on 9 May of that year, but was ultimately not recorded during that session. Following a heavy touring schedule, they returned to the studio on 3 June and recorded two songs: "Baby, Please Don't Go" and "With A Girl Like You". The song was recorded in three takes, with four overdubs taking place later that day.

Unlike "Baby, Please Don't Go", which was an unauthorized single released soon after it was recorded, "With A Girl Like You" was intended for album release, and was therefore mixed into stereo, in a mix that was disliked by Friberg. "We had no control over the mixing, that was all up to the Producer. I mean, what could you do?"

Release and Reception
The group requested to record their debut album in September of 1964, though this request was declined by their record label, Olga Records on the basis that the group was virtually unknown, having only scored a single top-twenty hit at the time. The label instead offered the band to release an EP of previously recorded, but unreleased material. They offered this deal, and "With A Girl Like You" was released as the first track on the second side of the EP Louie Louie. Although not a chart hit, the EP managed to breach the top-thirty, reaching number twenty-six.

The song received mixed to positive reviews, with many comparing the song's chord progression to that of "If I Fell" by the Beatles, a claim that Friberg denied, since "If I Fell" had been recorded by the time of "With A Girl Like You", though not released. He considered it merely a coincidence. Aftonbladet gave it a positive review, stating that "It is a 'poppy' in comparison to the rather bleak discography of the band." but also critizises it for its' length." Dagens Nyheter considered it "an unforgetable track" and a filler. Friberg has stated displeasure with the track, in comparison to "Hold My Hand" which he likes.

Personnel

 * Victor Friberg – bass guitar, higher harmony vocals
 * Anton Wihlborg – rhythm acoustic guitar, lower harmony vocals
 * William Hoang – lead and rhythm electric guitar
 * Brazer Özel – drums, bongo drums

The Troggs version
In 1966, British rock band The Troggs was looking for a follow up to their top-five hit "Wild Thing". Reg Presley had purchased a copy of Louie Louie once touring in Sweden, and decided he wanted to record "With A Girl Like You". On 2 April 1966, the group went into Olympic Studios and recorded the track in one take. The B-Side "I Want You", was also a Presley original. While their version retains the lyrics found in the original, there is a significant difference in its' structure, as Presley re-wrote it to better suit their style. It lacks the harmony found in the original, and utilizes simple Power chords throughout, played by guitarist Chris Britton

Nonetheless, the single proved to be a smash hit once released on 20 July 1966, it reached number one on the UK Singles Chart the week starting 3 August, where it remained for two weeks. It became their sole chart-topping song in the UK, and only reached number twenty-nine in the US. Ironically however, Friberg was in London at the time the single was recorded, and became shocked once he heard it. Despite this initial shock, he became fond of it, and enjoyed it. "Once we did "With A Girl Like You", that was it! There was nothing to top that!" I mean, we had another hit, "I Can't Control Myself", but there was that. I didn't understand how it became such a huge success."

Personnel

 * Reg Presley – vocals
 * Chris Britton – lead guitar
 * Pete Staples – bass guitar
 * Ronnie Bond – drums